Marsden Cove, Whangarei homes win Master Builder award

Two Northland building companies have won a regional building title, and will vie for a national accolade in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards later this year.

A further four Northland companies won gold, silver or bronze awards at the gala dinner at SkyCity in Auckland on Saturday.

The Auckland Registered Masters Builders House of the Year competition, which included Northland builds, had 16 different categories.

The two Northland category winners - Chris Stewart Builder Ltd and Stonewood Homes Whangarei, as well as a gold award winner David Reid Homes - were now in the running for the national title.

Chris Stewart Builder won the PlaceMakers New Home ($450,000 to $550,000), with an open-plan, waterfront home in Marsden Cove Marina.

Stonewood Homes Whangarei won the PlaceMakers Volume/Group Housing ($450,000-$700,000) with a stunning, spacious family home in Whangarei.

Marie Stewart from Chris Stewart Builder said it was a successful first time at the awards for the one-year-old company.

She said she had a lucky feeling going into the awards, despite not having any indication before the night that they had won.

"I thought we had a very good shot because I know Christopher and he's exceptionally good at what he does," Mrs Stewart.

"It's just a really beautiful house - it's right on the marina, and it has these massive opening sliders that open out on to the water so the indoor-outdoor flow is just fantastic - it's built for the lifestyle you have living there.

"Chris' workmanship is just exceptional... The finishing is just immaculate - all the little touches are on point."

Vynka Short from Stonewood Homes said the other nominees in the category were all stunning, and she thought it was their owner and builder Marcus Bracey's attention to detail that set it apart.

Stonewood Homes Whangarei's award-winner.Photo/Supplied

"He's meticulous with all of the Stonewood builds," Ms Short said.

"Marcus' team - from his builders and right through to our subcontractors - it's about choosing people that are in line with him and [co-owner] Danielle's business philosophy... It's always performing at that higher level."

Ms Short said the home had not yet sold.

"It's a beautiful, spacious, four bedroom family home and three living areas. Beautiful site, beautiful section. And the area out the back, out from that al fresco area, is actually a shared space so you're not going to have direct neighbours out from your entertaining area."

David Reid Homes won a gold award in the New Home ($550,000-$700,000) category with a house in Haruru, near Paihia, and a bronze award for a house up to $450,000, also in Haruru.

The awards were part of 10 regional competitions around the country. Gold-award houses, including category winners, were awarded a certain number of points. Those with the most points nationally get re-judged to determine the overall category winners on November 25.